Nord-Sud XXI respectfully calls upon States to consider the following in preparing the draft Rio+290

Declaration:

1. The right to development should be reaffirmed - This right has been reaffirmed consistently since

its declaration in UNGA Res. 41/128 in 1986, of which we celebrated the 25th anniversary in 2011. As

a leading principle of law guiding the work of the Rio Conference and reflecting the even stronger

consensus on this right today, it is appropriate to reiterate this principle

2. Reaffirm the need for all States to take action based on the best available science to deal with the adverse impacts of Climate change respecting the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities based on historical responsibility - This basic principle is a foundation of the Rio Declaration and the treaties adopted as a consequence. For example, article 3, paragraphs 1 and 2

of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change reiterate this principle for Sates in

regards to action to address the adverse consequences of Climate change.

3. Support the right to food and food sovereignty for all States and all peoples ? The right to food is a basic human right. All States must ensure it for their people and cooperate with other States who have difficulties doing so to ensure that they have the resources to do so. This duty requires also

that States take steps to ensure food security, including controlling speculation that makes food too expensive for all persons to afford.

4. Reject forms of commoditization of human life and values ? All forms of carbon trading, including REDD and REDD+, should vetted to ensure that they contribute to reducing aggregate greenhouse gas emissions and do not increase incentives to high emitters.

5. Forums concerning development and environment should be made more inclusive ? environment and development forums, especially the UNFCCC bodies, should be more inclusive and enhance the participation and capacity to participate of developing countries and civil society, especially from developing countries.

6. Decision making processes concerning environmental, developmental, trade related, and international economic financial matters should be democratized ? It is no longer legitimate for decisions over these vital areas of international affairs that affect billions of peoples? well-being to be made in undemocratic forums with very limited and very unequal participation by States. A necessary condition of democratic decision making is a wide range of stakeholder participation based on common values and goals.

7. Mechanisms should be created or existing ones should be made readily available to effectively protect individuals? human right to water ? The right to water has been recognized by the UN General Assembly, without a single ?no? vote. A focused effort should now be made to ensure its implementation.

8. Poverty must be reduced by creating mechanisms of accountability for all stakeholders ? Both governments-towards their own people and as donors-as well as private actors must be held accountable for reducing poverty.

9. War and other similar forms of coercion should be absolutely banned from international relations

? The greatest threat to human development is the use of force or war and other forms of coercion including the use of sanctions, especially unilaterally imposed sanctions. These threats to human development must be eliminated and absolutely banned. Consideration should be given to begin the process of removing the United Nations? right to use force in any circumstance.

10. Development assistance must be made more equitable ? Development assistance should be based on both current needs and the ability of more wealthy countries to contribute to needy countries as well as on the historical responsibility that some developed countries have for conditions of exploitation suffered by the people of less-developed countries.

11. Education about the environment should be significantly enhanced ? Teaching environmental sustainability should be a requirement of all levels of education?primary, secondary, and tertiary.

12. Local agriculture should be protected ? Small farms and peasant farmers should be protected and preserved because of they support community values and are usually contribute more to sustainable development.

13. Development, agriculture, and economic activity should be made sustainable ? Governments should commit to ensuring that each of these areas of human activity are made sustainable. The formation of a high level accountability mechanism should be suggested.

14. A sustained effort to achieve and build on the Millennium Development Goals should be ensured

? States should commit to enhancing their efforts to achieve the MDGs and to building on their achievements even after 2015.

15. Commitment to addressing the social determinates of health to achieve development - The effort within the World Health Organization and by States as reflected by the 2011 Rio Declaration on Social Determinates indicates a commitment by States to tackling the social determinates of health in a manner that serves the wider goal of social development.

16. The ?green economy? should be understood in the context of development and environmental sustainability ? States should commit to dealing with the issues raised under the heading of ?green economy? in a manner and by actions that are consistent with the sustainability of development and of the environment.

17. Encourage a rights-based, people-centered approach to social development ? States should reflect the new international order that emphasizes human rights and the protection of individuals and peoples basic rights.

18. UN Committee on World Food Security should be empowered to identify current food deficiencies and propose plans to address them ? States should empower the mechanism they created to address the food crisis ensuring that they do so taking into account to the views and concerns of small scale food providers and ensuring food security is enhanced.